[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 340B DISCOUNT DRUG PROGRAM

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                               speech of

                         HON. DAVID B. McKINLEY

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2022

  Mr. McKINLEY. Madam Speaker, in West Virginia, the 340B Drug Pricing 
Program is essential to providing access to low-cost medicine for 
inividuals in rural and underserved areas.
  Without it, many health care providers would not be able to deliver 
critical services to the communities they serve.
  The benefits are clear and the need is obvious, not just in West 
Virginia, but for rural and underserved communities across the country.
  Since coming to Congress more than a decade ago, I've been strong 
advocate for the 340B program.
  It has been an honor to join Rep. Spanberger on numerous occasions in 
our ongoing effort to defend and protect 340B, because it is the right 
thing to do for the people we serve.
  On the 30th anniversary of the program, we must recommit to holding 
pharmaceutical companies accountable and protect the program going 
forward. This means ensuring care for the uninsured, low-income and 
rural patients is not interrupted and our most vulnerable communities 
continue to have access to affordable medicine.
  If 340B ended in West Virginia, for example, the State's hospitals 
would see losses of nearly $300 million, resulting in services being 
cut, and access to care and low-cost prescriptions severely limited, 
hurting the neediest people the most.
  We need to stay engaged and keep up the charge. God Bless America.

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